In a decision made public Tuesday, the conduct commission said that in granting numerous media interviews about his close friend Miers, Hecht violated ethical rules prohibiting judges from publicly endorsing candidates for public office and from using the prestige of his judicial office to advance private interests.

Hecht's efforts to promote Miers' candidacy "by responding to media inquiries and assisting the White House in its efforts to persuade powerful special interest groups to support her candidacy, constituted an improper use of his office and position to promote Miers' private interest," the commission concluded.

Hecht, a Republican who has served on the high court since 1988, is appealing the ruling.

Latest Houston & Texas News

4th Austin Explosion Stokes Fear That a Serial Bomber is on the LooseVeuer

4th Austin Explosion Stokes Fear That a Serial Bomber is on the LooseBuzz 60

Police: 'Tripwire' May Have Set Off Austin BlastAssociated Press

These Two Boys Are Twins, Despite The Color Of Their SkinBuzz 60

Federal Agents Swarm Austin Explosion AreaAssociated Press

At Least Two Injured in Another Explosion in Austin, Authorities SayTime

9 g block satFox 26 Houston

9 saturdayFox 26 Houston

930 sundayFox 26 Houston

black pantherFox 26 Houston

530 part 2Fox 26 Houston

Austin, Texas Explosion Injures TwoAssociated Press

a blockFox 26 Houston

9 p.m. Mar. 18 FOXRAD ForecastFox 26 Houston

"I believe that my statements on matters of national public interest did not offend canons of judicial ethics and were fully protected by the First Amendment as core speech," said Hecht.

He added that he believes the commission's action is "unprecedented despite many judges, over the years, providing factual information and endorsements" concerning nominees to the federal bench.

An admonition is the least severe of three public sanctions available to the commission, which also can issue warnings and reprimands. The commission is required to disseminate the order to ensure public awareness.

Panel chosen by lottery

Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson on Tuesday used a lottery system to choose three judges to hear Hecht's appeal. They are
Kerry FitzGerald
, a Republican on the Dallas court of appeals;
Ann McClure
, a Democrat on the El Paso court of appeals; and Amos Mazzant, a Republican on the Dallas court of appeals.

Hecht is a longtime friend of Miers, who serves as counsel to President Bush, and often accompanies her to social events at the White House.

Bush nominated Miers to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on Oct. 3. Social conservatives in the Republican Party campaigned against her, citing her lack of conservative credentials and judicial experience, and the nominee withdrew Oct. 27.

Seana Willing, executive director of the conduct commission, said the commission acted both on its own initiative and in response to a complaint from a person who wanted to remain confidential as allowed under commission rules.

"There wasn't a whole lot of investigation. Most of the facts were out there in the media," said Willing.

Hecht appeared before the commission at its April meeting. The commission is composed of six judges, two lawyers and five citizens.

Phone conversation

According to findings of fact issued by the commission, Hecht spoke with a White House adviser about Miers' possible nomination shortly before she was named.

"During that telephone conversation, Hecht agreed to provide factual information to Dr. James Dobson and others about Miers' experience and background, including information about her religious views and her views on abortion," the commission said.

Dobson is a prominent evangelical Christian who runs a nonprofit organization called Focus on the Family.

The commission said that Hecht permitted the White House to refer media inquiries to him, and that he participated in 120 interviews during the week after Miers' nomination.

"Although he admittedly made public statements to the effect that Miers' nomination would be 'good for the country' and that she would make a 'good justice,' Justice Hecht did not believe his actions promoted Miers' nomination," the report said.

Defending Hecht

Chip Babcock, who is representing Hecht, said that judges have been commenting on nominees for the federal bench for decades. "I don't think that Harriet Miers' nomination is the same thing as a political race in the state of Texas," he said.

The three-judge panel is expected to hear Hecht's case within the next two months. If the admonition is upheld, Hecht could ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.

Hecht became the first justice to be publicly sanctioned since 1987 when the conduct commission reprimanded two Democrats, C.L. Ray and William Kilgarlin, in a scandal involving contacts with attorneys practicing before the court.

Ray was reprimanded for accepting free plane rides from attorneys practicing before the court and improper communication with lawyers about cases.

Kilgarlin was admonished because two of his law clerks had accepted a weekend trip to Las Vegas from a law firm with cases pending before the court. Hecht beat Kilgarlin in 1988, after attacking him during the campaign over his sanction.

Hecht is running for re-election this fall without a Democratic opponent, although he may face a Libertarian.